California Inmate Jason Driskell Dies in a Shasta County Hospital
In California news dated November 3, 2025, authorities say a man who had been held at the Shasta County Jail died at a nearby hospital shortly after being released for medical reasons last Thursday, according to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
According to officials, at approximately 8:45 a.m. on October 30, medical staff at the jail asked for Jason Scott Driskell to be taken to a hospital due to concerns about his health.
After deputies transported him, Driskell was formally released from custody because his medical condition was considered more urgent than maintaining his detainment. Later that evening, at about 6:15 p.m., the sheriff’s office was informed that Jason Driskell had died at the hospital. He was only 56 years old. Authorities say his death appears to be the result of natural causes, though an autopsy has been ordered to confirm the findings.
Detectives from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit and the Redding Police Department are jointly investigating the case. No evidence of foul play has been found at this stage, officials said.
Investigators are also reviewing a separate death reported on October 26, when another inmate was discovered unresponsive in a jail cell and later died at a hospital. That case likewise shows no signs of foul play but remains under review.
The address of the Shasta County Jail is 1655 West Street, Redding, California 96001.
Two Inmates Just Died in the Custody of Shasta County Jail in Less Than a Week
Five days before the tragic death of Jason Driskell in Shasta County Jail’s custody on October 31, 2025, Michael Kennith Jorgenson lost his life in a similar scenario.
On October 26, 24-year-old Michael Jorgenson was found unresponsive inside his housing unit at the Shasta County Jail.
At approximately 12:18 a.m. on October 26, an inmate alerted staff to a fellow inmate who was in distress. Deputies arrived to find Mr. Jorgenson on the floor of the cell. Lifesaving efforts immediately began while jail staff awaited emergency medical responders. Mr. Jorgenson was transported to a nearby hospital. Despite ongoing efforts, Michael Jorgenson was pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital at 1:05 a.m.
Authorities report that no signs of foul play were observed in Mr. Jorgenson’s case. A postmortem examination has been scheduled to determine the cause of his death.
What Happens When a Jail Inmate Has a Medical Emergency?
A person in a medical emergency should get the help they need, even if they are in jail. Sadly, the denial of medical treatment, even in an emergency, is a common problem in U.S. jails. The worst of it is that inmates sometimes die from completely preventable conditions, even though medical help in a crisis is, by law, a civil right.
Research found that almost 70% of jail detainees with chronic medical conditions were not provided with medical treatment during their incarceration. Even when it is widely known that a diabetic, for example, would die from diabetic ketoacidosis without insulin, jail staff have withheld the medication, resulting in custodial deaths. Without simple antibiotics for infections, an inmate’s condition can worsen to the extent that they develop sepsis and die.
When these cases of medical negligence occur, those responsible should be held accountable.
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